Volume One, Chapter Fifteen: Song Jing Commits Murder

At that very moment, all eyes instinctively turned to Song Jiayin. Originally, the Jin people had promised to marry the princess to the Second Prince Wanyan Lü, yet why had they ultimately pushed her toward the aged old emperor instead? How could the Jin people act with such fickleness and without any honor? It was as if, in that instant, everyone’s spirits plummeted to the depths—a tangled web of disappointment and confusion.

Song Jing suddenly rose, his face dark with gloom. “Grandmother, Mother, I have urgent state affairs to attend to. I must take my leave.” Without waiting for a response from his elders, he hurriedly swept out, leaving the room stunned and bewildered.

Only then did Su Lingfeng slowly speak: “Empress Dowager, it was my mother’s special instruction that I must come to see you, and I have brought some fine ginseng.” The Empress Dowager had always favored Su Lingfeng, the young and capable heir of the Anle Marquisate, a man of both literary and martial talent, far from ordinary. Though born of a concubine, Su Lingfeng had proven himself able to shoulder responsibilities and bring honor to the family. The Empress Dowager smiled kindly, “Please thank your mother for me; she has always kept this old woman in her thoughts.” Su Lingfeng responded humbly, “It is my duty.”

The Empress Dowager continued, “Your timing is perfect. We were just discussing your marriage with Yueyi. Since you are here, let me ask you—do you wish to marry Yueyi soon?” Su Lingfeng finally cast his gaze toward Song Yueyi. The young woman bit her lip shyly, lowering her eyes as her cheeks flushed deeply. Consort Li teased her with a smile, “Three years have passed, and you’re still shy?” Then she turned to Su Lingfeng, “The decree to grant the marriage was issued long ago. The Emperor said you could set the date yourselves. I would prefer the wedding to take place before the New Year.”

Su Lingfeng nodded but then shifted his gaze toward Song Jiayin. “Princess Jia, what do you think?” Jiayin was instantly taken aback, puzzled by the question—what did this have to do with her? Everyone present was stunned. The usually delicate Song Yueyi’s eyes welled with tears, fearing Su Lingfeng might reveal that he had not yet let go of Jiayin. Though they had grown up as childhood playmates, the official betrothal was between Yueyi and Su Lingfeng.

Consort Li looked at her daughter’s aggrieved expression but could not rebuke Su Lingfeng. Now that he was the heir of the Anle Marquisate and the Marquis himself a trusted aide of the Emperor, she was unwilling to lose such a son-in-law. Suppressing her anger, she asked, “Lingfeng, what do you mean? Do you really need Jia’s opinion?”

Empress Zhou also frowned, “This is your marriage to Yueyi. You should decide for yourselves.” Su Lingfeng remained calm and composed: “Princess Jia is half a year older than Yueyi, and the Emperor’s wish is to hold the wedding in early spring next year. Marriage is a significant matter; we must choose an auspicious date. We only moved to Nanjing a little over a month ago, and the princess’s residence is not yet repaired.”

He gave three reasons, each irrefutable. Who dared defy the Emperor’s decree? Jiayin only caught the first reason and paid little heed to the rest. She, already married off once, was now expected to wed again early? Was there a fear she might disrupt his marriage? Jiayin’s face remained calm and expressionless. “If we must observe seniority, then the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Second Prince—all unmarried—should marry first.” There were four princes ahead in line, and none had yet taken a wife. It was unclear what they were all waiting for, especially Song Jing, who had yet to even have a suitable match.

Su Lingfeng seemed oblivious to the sarcasm, nodding in agreement. “Princess Jia is right. We cannot overstep.” Song Yueyi, however, was displeased. She rose abruptly, excused herself to the Empress Dowager, and fled with tear-filled eyes. Consort Li stood awkwardly, bowed, and also withdrew. Later, the Empress Dowager said she was tired and dismissed everyone.

...

Song Jing stormed toward the Purple Imperial Hall where the Emperor resided. After lingering outside for some time, he was finally summoned and allowed in. Emperor Song Wenyuan sat upright behind his desk, adorned in a brown dragon robe, radiating authority and inviolability. Frowning, his gaze sharp as a blade, he asked, “Why do you linger at the door, hesitant to enter?”

Song Jing respectfully bowed but then reported with frustration: “Father, Jia has returned. She suffered great hardships in the capital. It was clearly promised she would marry Wanyan Lü, but in the end, she was given to that old man.” The Emperor’s expression remained as calm as still water. He replied coldly, “The Jin Kingdom no longer exists; what use is it to dwell on the past? Since Jia has returned, we should treat her well and choose a suitable husband for her as a princess.”

Song Jing urgently objected, “But Jia’s name has been removed from the royal genealogy! Father, she is your daughter, raised by you and Mother. How can you treat her this way?” The Emperor’s eyes immediately turned icy, his voice deepening: “Her surname is Gao, not Song. I have been more than generous to raise her in the palace. If you have no other matters, you may leave.” Song Jing felt his heart shatter. He knew that his sister of fifteen years had already lost her status in their father’s eyes.

With a heavy heart, he left the Purple Imperial Hall, filled with anger and sorrow for Jiayin’s plight. Remembering her suffering in the Jin Kingdom, his grief deepened. The once proud, noble, and willful younger sister now struggled even to walk, her frail form painfully thin.

On his way, he encountered Empress Zhou, who asked where he was headed. He said nothing, storming away, and the Empress, worried, sent someone to secretly follow him. Song Jing dashed to the place where Jin nobles were held captive. Seeing the Jin prisoners eating, his fury erupted. He kicked over their bowls, “How dare you eat the grain of our Great Zhou? Our princess was married to you, and how have you treated her? Starve for three days—let’s see if you survive!”

He grabbed a crying woman and ordered her dragged outside. Then he took a whip and struck her violently. “Is this how you treated my sister?” After more than ten lashes, a man tried to flee. Quick as lightning, Song Jing shot an arrow into his calf and roared, “If my sister tried to escape, why did you not let her go?”

He then began beating and cursing the Jin captives. Their pitiful eyes pierced his heart, but he knew his sister had endured the same cruelties. Someone recognized him: “You’re a prince of Great Zhou, so what? We are nobility, too! You cannot treat us like this!” Song Jing sneered and ordered ice water brought, pouring it over the man’s head. “No towels to dry—let them freeze. None of you shall wear padded coats. Since you have surrendered, you will wear only single-layer garments!”

He shouted, “Guards, strip them of their padded coats! What right have these captives to wear warm clothes?” He bellowed, “Cold water and sour gruel—that is your food!” Someone shouted back, “You cannot do this! The Emperor of Great Zhou has ordered the humane treatment of prisoners!” Song Jing dragged the man into the cold courtyard, stripped him naked. The man tried to flee but was beheaded by Song Jing’s sword.

His face bloodied, eyes icy as frost, he hissed, “Humane treatment? You could not even treat the princess well! What right do you have to speak of humane treatment as captives?” He warned coldly, “Whoever tries to escape shall surely die!”

In that moment, the entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence. The air seemed to freeze, and even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard clearly. “Try to run! Let me see who dares!” “Jing’er, stop at once! What are you doing?”